Wallace Mercer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wallace Mercer (June 4, 1946 - January 17, 2006) was chairman of the Scottish football club Hearts from 1981 to 1994. He is remembered mainly for improving the fortunes of Hearts during the early 1980s. This culminated in Hearts coming within 10 minutes of winning the championship in 1986.

Mercer is also remembered for his attempt to merge the two major Edinburgh clubs, Hearts and Hibs, during 1990. Mercer reasoned that the Old Firm had far greater financial power than either Edinburgh club and that the only way to realistically compete was with a united Edinburgh club. Hibs fans suspected that the "merger" was more of a takeover by Hearts and they strongly resisted Mercer's bid to acquire a majority share in Hibs. Mercer was eventually forced to abandon his plans as Sir Tom Farmer took financial control of Hibs instead.

Mercer died of cancer on 17 January 2006. The timing of his death caused a point of controversy because Hearts' next home match was an Edinburgh derby against Hibs. Many Hibs fans at the match actively disrespected the minute's applause that was held for Mercer, demonstrating that his actions had not been forgotten or forgiven by the Hibs support.